History of Kegites Club International:
Kegite Club International known also as Supreme Comradium can be traced to thirteen students of the then Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology, who gathered themselves every evening to relax after a hard day's work in the College in Ibadan then. However, upon hearing that their college would become a university the next morning, their excitement metamorphosed into ecstasy for being the first set of undergraduates of the new University of Ife Ile Ife.
The Palm Wine Drinkerds Club did not only come into existence by accident but by incidence. These African students knowing full well their cultural background gathered to sing folktale songs and drank palm wine. Consequently, they were able to retain the cultural heritage of the blacks which the colonial master were unable to take away. The club was established in October 1963.
The pioneer executives of the Palm Wine Drinkerds Clublub were headed by Olusegun Adesina (who later became a Professor) - President, but as a socio-cultural club it was agreed that he should be called Chief as in African traditional setting. Thus, Chief Olusegun Adesina was the first Chief to be coronated for the Club followed by Emmanuel Abiodun, Bisi Olatunji and others. The Chiefs had executives known as Grand Councilors who served with them.
These Chiefs at the University of Ife are known as World Chiefs because the global (World Headquarters) of the Club is situated in the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife.
Over the years, many students in other institutions found the activities of the club very interesting and fascinating. Thus, they sought for and obtained permission from University of Ife. (the world headquarters of the palm wine drinkers club) to establish a branch of the club in their schools. These branches of the club in the various higher institutions are known as ilyasis. The permission or authority to establish an ilya is symbolized with the issuance of The Keg of Office by the World Headquarters to the prospective or aspiring Ilya/school.
Among such institutions is Federal College of Agriculture, Akure named ILYA du TRACTOR (First institution to have Keg of Office) others include University of Ibadan which obtained its keg of office in 1972 and it is known as ILYA du UI, The Polytechnic , Ibadan 1974 and several others.
The club changed its name on October 1986, during the reign of Chief Isaac- Anthony Uzodima Ogidi, the then world Chief, at the world Chiefsis conference of 1986 from Palm Wine Drinkerds Club to Kegites club International. The motto of the Club was also changed to Unity in Diversity from the basis of African Peace and World Unity is Palm wine.
The aims and objectives of kegites club are to preserve and promote African culture, promote peace among human race, resuscitate the cultural heritage of our fore fathers and promote honest living and truth among all members as well as to discourage tribalism and racism. The Kegites Club is now an international club as there are branches outside the shores of Nigeria.
There are branches in United Kingdom, India, United States and various convergencies in other countries of the world. The Kegites Club International is one and indivisible. The Supremost Comradium as the club is equally known by among members has a special language lexicon with a peculiar dialectical parlance which every member is delighted to speak at all times and gatherings.
Membership titles/portfolio in Kegite Club:
The AB World Chief:- is the global head/Leader of the club. He administers the activities of the club in conjunction with the Council of Chiefs (drawn from various ilyasis, inclusive of outgone Chiefs known as Xys and Archival Chiefs)
* CHIEF: This is the President of the club in an ilya (higher institution). He is in charge of accepting new members in the club that is called liberation and has the power to do many things.
* ELDER: He is next in hierarchy to the Chief. However, the Elder has no executive powers as the Chief. His role is mainly advisory.
* FEDA: He is the secretary of an ilya.
. PURSE:- This is the Treasurer.
* PARROT: He is the Director of Information in an ilya, he passes information to the comrades/members.
* PHILOSOPHER: He is the comrad who knows everything about the club, he teaches and tutorise both animales and comrados in the zoo.
* H.O.D: Head of drums, he is in charge of the drum in an ilya he also teaches the other comrades how to beat the drums.
* SONGITO: He is the vocalist of the club, he lead in songitizing in jara.
* MIGRATOR: He organizes ketekete (vehicles) for external gyrations.
* TAPPER: The person that rotates holy water/Palm Wine .
* MARSHAL: The Provost in an ilya , he make sure that the comrads behaves well in an ilya during club's functions.
* LUPOUR: He is the person that shares the holy water( Palm Wine) for the members during the club's functions.
* ZOO COMMANDANT: He is the person in charge of the co-ordination of the zoo class for aspiring members.
* ADJUCTANT: The person in charge of the chief’s items.
* CURATOR: A person in charge of the shrine, all the chieftaincy parapitenal is usually put in the custody of the curator.
* SPECIAL DUTY (spedu) : The person also carries out some duty in an ilya.
* ELDERSIS COUNCIL: Selection of Chief, Elders and Grand Councilors/Exco in an ilya who take some important decisions in order for the club to move forward.
* CHIEFSIS COUNCIL: This council is the highest body in the club comprising of ab, xy, xyz, archival and metusela Chiefesis. The Council is presided over by the Ab World Chief.
* SPIDER: He designs all the comradic materials example includes capito, regalia, neckito
Some Terms Used in the Kegites Club:
* KEGISTIC LANGWAJA: This is the approved language/vocabulary of the Kegites Club International.
* ILYA: This is a branch of kegites club, that has a keg of office, as a symbol of authority to operate. It has a duly coronated Chief.
* BABY ILYA: This is an aspiring branch of Kegites Club that has no keg office or a chief, but attached to an ilya and is over seen by a Coordinator (Coordie).
* A SHRINE: This is the meeting/assemblage place of the members of the club in the World Headquarters or ilyasis. It is also where comradic materials are being kept The shrine serves as a relaxation place for comrads/members and visitors alike.
•TRANSFORMATION/LIBERATION: The introduction of new members, who have met with all the requirements to merit membership of the kegite club.
•ZOO: A place where new members are groomed.
HOLY WATER:- Palm Wine.
Read Also: Lists of Ilyasis in Comradium
Kegite Club Anthem:
" Imbibe Imbibe in majesty
Holy water is good for me,
Holy water from Kegites tree,
That makes us happy every day."
KEGITE CLUB COLOURS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE
* GREEN: Stands for the palm tree shades/fronds and life.
* WHITE: Stands for the purity of the palm wine and peace.
* BROWN: Stands for the brown colour of the Kegites keg.
THE IDENTITIES OF KEGITE CLUB
* THE REGALIA
* CAPITO
* NECKITO/BEADS
KEGITE CLUB TEST OF KARABILITY (T.O.K)
* The ability to vibrate/speak the Club's language
* The ability to songitize
* The ability to drumatize
* The ability to cowarize
* The ability to migrate
* The ability to gyrate
* The ability to imbibe.
As at this day the club has over 100 Ilyasis in Nigeria and overseas. Outside Nigeria, we have in the United Kingdom ( ilya du queen), in Chicago (ilya du windy), in India (ilya du Punjab) etc.
Late Chief ObafemiAwolowo was the Eternal Grand Patron of the club and was succeeded by Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo. Also other prominent people in our society have identified with club as committed members. The Once Deputy Governor of Rivers State Chief Tele Ikwu is a Chief of RSUST.
Late Governor of Ondo State Arakurin Rotimi Akeredolu was a Life Senior Felo of the Kegites Club International. There are many more distinguished members of the society that are members of the Club.
**ON THE SIDELINES**
*Others meet in the bush, but Kegites meet at the shrine.
*People scamper for safety when others gather, but people draw closer when Kegites gather.
*Lecturers who belong to the other groups do not allow students to know about their membership,
but Lecturers who belong to the Kegites Club fight for students right during Senate meetings.
*Others believe that every Bleep up must be treated, Kegites believe there is unity in diversity.
*Others fly colours , but Kegites regaliate. They wear beret but Kegites put on capito.
They drink blood but Kegites imbibe HOLY WATER (Palm Wine).
May our Unity in Diversity never turn to dichotomy,
May we all continue to imbibe in one spirit. (MAYAN)
*Courtesy: Love Gyration Africa on Facebook
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